Hopis attack false kachinas

In recent years, tourists have bought tens of
thousands of kachinas, many of which are mass produced by Navajos.
"We can't keep up with the demand," says Steve Roberts, manager of
a factory in Thoreau, N.M., where the carved, wooden figurines
representing ancestral Hopi spirits are turned out. But, the
Navajos may not be able to sell kachinas much longer. The Hopi
Tribe is considering proposals to copyright or trademark kachinas
made by Hopi artisans to keep the Navajos from selling cheap
look-alikes. Genuine kachinas, which hold religious significance
for the Hopi, take weeks or months of hand crafting and often cost
five times as much as the Navajo dolls. "It's upsetting because
(the Navajos) are just into this for the money," says Laurinda
Secakuku, who runs an arts and crafts store on the Hopi
reservation. "They've taken a sacred thing to Pueblo Indians and
exploited it for their selfish interest." Roberts says the Navajo
are just making mementos for budget-conscious consumers who are
more concerned about price than the quality or religious
significance of kachinas. According to Duane Beyal, press aide to
Navajo Nation President Peterson Zah: "All the Navajos want to do
is earn a living so they can put groceries on the table."